Unison action seat



March 12, 1968 H. c. FLINT 3,372,955

UNISON ACTION SEAT Filed Aug. 16, 1965 INVENTOR.

bfy/azm C $71211 BY United States Patent Ofiice 3,372,955 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,955 UNISON ACTIQN SEAT Hyland C. Flint, 3551 Walnut Lake Road, Urchard Lake, Mich. 48033 Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 480,2il7 12 Claims. (Cl. 297-300) ABSTRACT 6F THE DISCLOSURE In a preferred form the subject invention relates to a type of unison action seating wherein both the seat and backrest portions of the seat are integrally formed by a spring wire member, said spring wire member being deflectable against a base or ramp portion of the scat structure which effectively shortens the lever arm of the spring as the deflection distance increases changing the spring rate in the process to inhibit further spring deflection.

This invention relates to unison action seating, and more particularly to a seat structure wherein the backrest support portion moves downwardly with deflection of the seat portion.

In the design and manufacture of seating structures, it is often desirable to provide a unison action construction wherein the portion of the seat structure forming the backrest moves downwardly and upwardly with the downward and upward movement of the seat cushion, as the seat cushion is deflected by the occupant. Such unison action seating provides numerous advantages insofar as comfort to the user is concerned.

It is becoming increasingly popular to provide seat structures that are relatively thin, both at the back portion and at the seat portion, so as not to take up an inordinate amount of room in the area Where the seat structure is used. In the past, such slim, or thin, structures have had to sacrifice upholstery and springing comfort in order to provide the slim lines desirable. The relatively rigid seating and back frames have traditionally been reduced in size by the use of foam rubber, or the like, as cushioning materials, such structures forming relatively uncomfortable seats and back supports for the user.

The device in which this invention is embodied comprises, generally, a unison action seat construction wherein the seat is supported by spring wire elements extending rearwardly from the front portion of the seat structure, and being bent upwardly into U shape to provide a resilient back support frame capable of deflecting with the weight of the user and providing the desired degree of resilience. A plurality of sinuous wire springs or other spring elements are secured to the U-shaped wire member and its associated construction to form a seat cushion, the overall construction being such that as the use deflects the seat cushion, the backrest portion will deflect as well, both in a vertical direction and in a rearward direction for ease and comfort to the user. The U-shaped spring wire element provides the basic spring support for the overall seat structure and is so mounted on the base frame as to increase in stiffness as the seat structure is deflected downwardly.

A seat structure so constructed provides the necessary amount of resilience in both the back portion and the seat portion and eliminates the need for bulky and eX- pensive upholstery and springing. The seat is constructed of a relatively few number of parts that are easily and inexpensively assembled. The backrest frame, instead of being the usual rigid structure, is taken advantage of to provide the degree of resilience necessary for user comfort. The entire construction is easily adaptable to a variety of styles and presents the increasingly popular slim or thin outline.

These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a chair structure embodying the invention, with parts broken away and in section to illustrate the position of the various elements; and

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the chair structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the upholstery and covering removed, to illustrate the position of the various elements.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the overall chair construction includes a base frame, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, and which may include a generally planar platform 12 supported from the floor or other base support by a plurality of suitable legs 14.

Mounted on the platform 12 is a front support member, illustrated generally by the numeral 16, which is secured to the front support member in any suitable manner and which may extend across the platform 12 transversely of the chair. As will become hereinafter more apparent, however, the front support member 16 may be divided into two small sections located at the sides of the platform to support the remaining structure. Front support member 16 includes a generally planar base portion 18, angularly disposed rearwardly relative to the platform 12. Such angular disposition provides a ramp portion extending upwardly and rearwardly for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent. It is obvious that this member 16 can be integral with the base portion to provide a bearing surface for a wire member 30 hereinafter described. At the forward edge of the base part 18 are a pair of spaced eyes 20, formed by rolling a portion of the support member 16 into cylinders as indicated in the drawing. Extending upwardly from the base portion 18, and at either side of the platform 12 are flanges 22 at the outermost side edges of the front support member 16. The base portion 18 terminates in an arcuate section 24, extending arcuately downwardly and rearwardly from the base portion 18. At the side ends of the arcuate portion 24 are spacing walls 26 which space the front support member 16 from the platform 12, and outwardly turned flanges 28 by which the front support member 16 may be secured to the platform 12.

Secured to the front support member is a U-shaped spring wire member, illustrated generally by the numeral 30. Member 30 includes leg elements 32 having inturned ends 34 received in the eyes or cylinders 20 formed in the forward edge of the front support member 16. Leg elements 32 extend rearwardly and upwardly, being directed in this manner by the ramp portion of the front support member 16. Side flanges 22 on the member 16 constrain the leg elements 32. The U-shaped wire member Ell, toward the rear of the chair structure, is bent upwardly, as at 36, to form a backrest frame 38 extending upwardly and across the rear of the seat structure. Spring wire member 39 is of suflicient resilience to provide spring support through the leg elements 32 for the entire seat structure, as will become hereinafter more apparent, and at the same time provide a degree of resilience in the backrest frame 38 to deflect with the weight of the user for the users comfort.

Extending transversely of the chair structure and adjacent the bend 36 in the spring wire member 30, is a rear support member, illustrated generally by the numeral 40. Rear support member 40 has forwardly directed flanges 42 at each end thereof, the flanges 42 engaging the outer sides of the U-shaped wire member St A tab 44 is formed on the rear support member 42 and is wrapped around the leg elements 32 of the wire member 30 to secure the rear support member in place. Further securement, if needed, may be obtained by welding or otherwise affixing the flange 42 to the wire member 30.

Flanges 42 are so formed as to provide a gusset between the back portion 38 and the leg elements 32 of the wire member 30. The triangular shape and the degree of extension of the flanges 42 on either side of the bend 36 provides the strength to prevent the backrest frame 38 from straightening out the bend 36 in the wire member 36. It is desirable that the angle between the leg elements 32 and the back frame 38 stay substantially constant, so as not to fatigue the metal of the spring wire member 34 and thus destroy the seat construction.

At various spaced points along the length of the rear support member 40 are a plurality of tubular portions 46 formed out of the rear support member 40 by making suitable slots or lances in the material and forming the tubular portion 46 outwardly. Such tubular portions 46 support and retain U-shaped spring wire members, illus trated generally by the numerals 48, 50 and 52. Such spring wire members have the legs thereof received and. secured in the tubular portions 46 and extend upwardly and within the backrest frame 38 in nested fashion, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawing. The wire springs 48, 50 and 52 provide resilient support within the back frame 33 for the comfort of the user. It will be apparent that the number of elements 4-8, 50 and 52, as well as the respective placement thereof within the back frame 38, may be adjusted to achieve the desired resilience within the back structure.

In further spaced locations along the length of the back support member 49 are horizontal tubular portions 54 formed in the same manner as the tubular portions 46. Such tubular portions 54 receive the rearward ends of sinuous wire spring strips, illustrated by the numeral 56. The spring strips 56 extend forwardly from the rear support member All and above the platform 12 and leg elements 32. A suflicient number of such spring strips are located across the seat structure to provide the desired seat cushioning for the comfort of the user. At the forward end of the seat structure, the spring strips 56 are bent downwardly and rearwardly, as at 58, and then downwardly and forwardly, as at 60, to form a V front supporting portion and a soft front edge for the seat cushion. The spring strips 56 are then bent forwardly as at 62 and are secured to the platform 12 in any suitable manner as by staples 64. Spring strips 56 extend slightly beyond the platform 12 for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent. At the juncture between the first bend in the spring strips 56 a border wire 66 is secured to each of the sinuous spring strips 56 by suitable clips or the like 68 and extends across the front of the structure. At the extreme forward ends of the spring strips 56, a second border wire 70 is secured to each of the spring strips by suitable clips or the like 72.

Any suitable cushioning means may be provided for the back frame 38 and the seat cushion, and for purposes of illustration foam rubber members 74 and 76, respectively, are shown to be covering the back support frame 3-8 and the inner U-shaped wire elements 48, 50 and 52, as well as covering the sinuous spring elements 56 on the seat portion of the structure. The foam member 76 is formed downwardly at the front edge of the chair, covering the border wire 68 and extending to the border wire '70 to provide a soft front edge for the seat construction. A suitable covering material for the seat portion of the chair, such as fabric or the like 78, may be secured at the lower front edge of the platform 12 and extend over the foam rubber elements 76 to a suitable securement at the rear of the seat portion. Similarly, a covering material 80 covers the foam rubber member '74, passes over the top of the backrest frame 38 and is secured adjacent the lower rear edge of the platform 12.

Also extending from the rear edge of the platform 12 is a plastic member 82 extending between the platform 12 and the rear support member 40. Plastic member $2 serves as a base for that portion of the covering material so that as the seat structure is deflected, the lower rear portion of the covering 80 will maintain its taut condition and will not wrinkle or sag. Such plastic material 82 is of sufiicient resilience to permit deflection, and at the same time retain its desired shape.

As will now be apparent, the operation of the seat structure is dependent upon the resilience of the spring wire member 30. As the user occupies the seat portion of the chair construction, the deflection of the sinuous springs and the weight of the user on the seat structure will deflect the back frame 38 vertically downwardly against the force of leg elements 32. At the same time, the user leaning against the backrest portion of the seat structure deflects such backrest portion rearwardly with the desired resilience for user comfort. The deflected position of the leg elements 32 and the backrest frame 38 are shown in dashed and dotted lines at 32' and 38', respectively. Due to the arcuate portion 24 of the front support plate 16, the fulcrum points of the leg elements 32 move rearwardly with deflection of the leg elements 32 to increase the stiffness of the leg elements with the deflection. Such increase in stiffness prevents the entire structure from bottoming on the platform 12 at the rearward corner or edge thereof, which would destroy the resilience of the seat structure.

Thus, a structure is provided that is extremely simple in manufacture and assembly, having a small number of parts and being readily adaptable to a variety of styles. The slim or thin lines of the basic construction, and the resilience of the basic construction avoids the usual overstuffed or bulky look of upholstered furniture of this type. A single U-shaped -wire element provides the elemental chair support and backrest frame, providing the unison action normally desirable and at the same time is utilized for spring support.

Changes and alterations in the structure will occur to those having skill in the art after having had reference to the foregoing description and drawing. However, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention by the foregoing description and drawing, but by the scope of the appended claims in which:

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion:

a base frame having rearwardly directed ramp means;

a resilient member having legs secured at the ends thereof to said base frame and extending rearwardly therefrom over said ramp means, said legs being bent upwardly to form integrally with the cross portion of said resilient member a backrest frame, said legs being deflectable over said ramp means to vary the spring rate thereof proportional to the amount of downward deflection thereover;

a rear support member extending between the legs of said resilient member and secured thereto adjacent said upward bend;

and spring strip means extending between said rear support means and said base frame to form a seat cushion support;

said resilient member forming spring support means for the seat portion and the back portion of said seat structure.

2. In a unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion:

a base frame having rearwardly directed ramp means;

. a spring wire member having legs secured at the ends thereof to said base frame and extending rearwardly therefrom over said ramp means, said legs being bent upwardly to form with the cross portion of said spring wire member a backrest frame;

a rear support member extending between the legs of tion and aback portion and comprising:

said spring wire member and secured thereto adjacent said upward bend;

spring wire means secured to said rear support member and extending into said backrest frame for providing resilient support in said back portion;

and a plurality of sinuous wire spring strips secured at one end to said rear support member and secured at the other end to said base frame;

said spring wire member forming spring support means for the seat portion and the back portion of said seat structure controllably deflectable together over said ramp means to vary the spring rate of said spring wire member proportional to the amount of deflection.

3. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base frame having a rearwardly directed ramp portion;

a spring wire member having legs secured at the ends thereof to said base frame and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom over said ramp portion and engaging said arcuate portion, said legs being bent upwardly to form with the cross portion of said spring wire member a backrest frame;

a rear support member extending between the legs of said spring wire member and secured thereto adjacent said upward bend;

spring wire means extending from said rear support member into said backrest frame for providin resilient support in said back portion;

a plurality of sinuous wire spring strips secured at one end to said rear support member and secured at the other end to said base frame;

and cushioning means covering said backrest frame and said spring strips;

said spring wire member forming spring support means for the seat portion and the back portion of said seat structure that is deflectable at a varying rate over said ramp means thereby decreasing the amount of deflection as the distance of deflection increases.

4. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base member;

a front support member mounted on said base member and having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion and a rearwardly directed arcuate portion;

a U-shaped spring wire member having legs secured at the ends thereof to said front support member and extending rearwardly therefrom over said ramp portion of said front support member and engaging said arcuate portion of said front support member, said legs being bent upwardly rearwardly of said front support member to form with the cross portion of said U-shaped member a backrest frame;

a rear support member extending between the legs of said U-shaped member and secured thereto adjacent said upward bend;

spring wire means extending from said rear support member into said backrest frame for providing resilient support in said back portion;

a plurality of sinuous wire spring strips secured at one end to said rear support member and extending forwardly therefrom, said spring strips being bent to form V supporting portions at the forward ends thereof and being secured to said base member forwardly of said front support member;

and cushioning means covering said backrest frame and said spring strips;

said U'shaped spring wire member forming spring support means for the seat portion and the back portion of said seat structure.

5. A unison action seat structure having a seat pora base member;

a front support member mounted on said base member and having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion and a rearwardly directed arcuate portion;

a U-shaped spring wire member having legs secured at the ends thereof to said front support member and extending rearwardly therefrom over said ramp portion of said front support member and engaging said arcuate portion of said front support member, said legs being bent upwardly rearwardly of said front support member to form with the cross portion of said U-shaped member a backrest frame;

a rear support member extending between the legs of said U-shaped member and secured thereto above said upward bend;

a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support member and extending upwardly therefrom and within said backrest frame;

a plurality of sinuous wire spring strips secured at one end to said rear support member and extending forwardly therefrom, said spring strips being bent to form V supporting portions at the forward ends thereof and being secured to said base member forwardly of said front support member;

and cushioning means covering said backrest frame and said spring strips;

said U-shaped spring wire member forming spring support means for the seat portion and the back portion of said seat structure.

6. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base member;

a front support member mounted on said base member and having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion and a rearwardly directed arcuate portion;

a U-shaped spring wire member having legs secured at the ends thereof to said front support member and extending rearwardiy therefrom over said ramp portion of said front support member and engaging said arcuate portion of said front support member, said legs being bent upwardly rearwardly of said front support member to form with the cross portion of said U-shaped member a backrest frame;

a rear support member extending between the legs of said U-shaped member and secured thereto above and below said upward bend;

a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support member and extending upwardly therefrom and within said backrest frame;

a plurality of sinuous wire spring strips secured at one end to said rear support member and extending forwardly therefrom, said spring strips being bent downwardly and rearwardly and downwardly and forwardly at the forward ends thereof to form V supporting portions and being secured to said base member forwardly of said front support .member;

and cushioning means covering said backrest frame and said spring strips;

said U-shaped spring wire member forming spring support means for the seat portion and the back portion of said seat structure.

7. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base frame having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion, said ramp portion terminating rearwardly in a downwardly arcuate portion;

a spring wire member secured to one side of said base frame and extending rearwardly thereof and engaging said ramp portion, said spring wire member extending rearwardly of said base frame and being bent first upwardly and then transversely of said seat structure and then downwardly to form a U-shaped backrest frame, said wire member being bent to extend forwardly to the other side of said base frame and engaging said ramp portion thereof and being secured to said base frame, the portions of said spring wire member extending between said base frame and said backrest frame forming spring supporting means;

a rear support member secured at each end to said spring wire member and extending therebetween, said rear support member being secured to the lower portion of said backrest frame;

a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support member and extending upwardly therefrom and within said backrest frame;

a plurality of sinuous spring wire strips secured at the rearward ends thereof to said rear support member and extending forwardly above said spring supporting means, said spring strips being secured adjacent the forward ends thereof to said base frame;

and cushioning means disposed on the forward surface of said backrest frame and above said sinuous spring strips.

d. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base member;

a front support member mounted on said base member and extending transversely thereacross, said front support member having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion terminating rearwardly in a and extending transversely thereacross, said front support member having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion terminating rearwardly in a downwardly arcuate portion;

a spring wire member secured to one side of said front support member and extending rearwardly thereof and engaging said ramp portion, said spring wire member extending rearwardly of said front support memebr and being bent first upwardly and then transversely of said seat structure and then downwardly to form a U-shaped backrest frame, said Wire member being bent to extend forwardly to the other side of said front support member and engaging said ramp portion thereof and being secured to said front support member, the portions of said spring wire member extending between said front support member and said backrest frame forming spring supporting means;

a rear support member secured at each end to said spring wire member and extending therebetween, said rear support member being secured to the lower portion of said backrest frame;

a plurality of U-shaped spring Wire members secured at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support member and extending upwardly therefrom and within said backrest frame;

a plurality of sinuous spring wire strips secured at the rearward ends thereof to said rear support member and extending forwardly above said spring supporting means, said spring strips being secured adjacent the forward ends thereof to said base member;

and cushioning means disposed on the forward surface of said backrest frame and above said sinuous spring strips.

1%. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base member;

means supporting said base member above a floor;

a front support member mounted on said base member and extending transversely thereacross, said front downwardly arcuate portion; support member having an upwardly and rear- 3 Spring Wire member seemed to one Side Of Said from wardiy directed ramp portion terminating rearwardly support member and extending rearwardly thereof i a d dl arcuate io and engaging Said p P Said Spring Wife a spring wire member secured to one side of said front member extending mam/army of Said from pp support member and extending rearwardly thereof member and being bent first upwardly and then transand engaging said ramp portion, said spring Wire Versely of Said Seat structure and Then downwardly member extending rearwardly of said front support to form a U-shaped backrest frame, said wire memmember and being bent first upwardly and then ber being bent to extend forwardly to the other side transversely of said seat structure and then of said front support member and engaging said ramp downwardly to form a U-shaped backrest frame, said portion thereof and being secured to said front sup- 49 wire member being bent to extend forwardly to the port member, the portion of said spring Wire memother side of said front support member and enber extending between said front support member gaging said ramp portion thereof and being secured and said backrest frame forming spring supporting to said front support member, the portions of said means; spring wire member extending between said front a rear support member secured at each end to said 4p support member and said backrest frame forming spring wire member and extending therebetween, said a spring supporting means; rear support member being secured to the lower pora rear support member secured at each end to said tion of said backrest frame; spring wire member and extending therebetween,

a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured said rear support member being secured to said spring at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support 50 wire member at each side of the bends therein bemember and extending upwardly therefrom and withtween said backrest frame and said spring supportin said backrest frame; ing means;

a plurality of sinuous spring wire strips secured at the a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured rearward ends thereof to said rear support member at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support and extending forwardly above said spring supportmember and extending upwardly therefrom and ing means, said spring strips being secured adjacent within said backrest frame; the forward ends thereof to said base member; a plurality of sinuous spring wire strips secured at and cushioning means disposed on the forward surface the rearwardly ends thereof to said rear support of said backrest frame and above said sinuous spring member and extending forwardly above said front strips. support member, said spring strips being bent down- 9. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion wardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and and aback portion and comprising: forwardly to said base member and being secured a base member; thereto;

means supporting said base member above a floor; and cushioning means disposed on the forward surface a front support member mounted on said base member of said backrest frame and above said sinuous spring strips. 11. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

base member;

F means supporting said base member above a floor;

a front support member mounted on said base member and extending transversely thereacross, said front support member having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion terminating rearwardly in a downwardly arcuate portion;

a spring wire member secured to one side of said front support member and extending rearwardly thereof and engaging said ramp portion, said spring wire member extending rearwardly of said front support member and being bent first upwardly and then transversely of said seat structure and then downwardly to form a U-shaped backrest frame, said wire member being bent to extend forwardly to the other side of said front support member and engaging said ramp portion-thereof and being secured to said front support member, the portions of said spring wire member extending between said front support member and said backrest frame forming spring supporting means;

a rear support member secured at each end to said spring wire member and extending therebetween, said rear support member being secured to said spring wire member at each side of the bends therein between said backrest frame and said spring supporting means;

a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support member and extending upwardly therefrom and within said backrest frame;

a plurality of sinuous spring wire strips secured at the rearward ends thereof to said rear support member and extending forwardly above said front support member, said spring strips being bent downwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and forwardly to said base member and being secured thereto;

cushioning means disposed on the forward surface of said backrest frame and above said sinuous spring strips;

covering means secured to said base member to cover said cushioning means;

and a flexible member secured to said base member and said rear support member and extending therebetween and transversely of said seat structure and within said covering means to prevent wrinkling of the rearward portion of said covering means with deflection of said spring wire member and said backrest frame about said arcuate portion of said front support member.

12. A unison action seat structure having a seat portion and a back portion and comprising:

a base member;

means supporting said base member above a floor;

a front support member mounted on said base member and extending transversely thereacross, said front support member having an upwardly and rearwardly directed ramp portion, said ramp portion terminating rearwardly in a downwardly arcuate portion;

a spring wire member secured to one side of said front support member and extending rearwardly thereof and engaging said ramp portion, said spring Wire member extending rearwardly of said front support member and being bent first upwardly and then transversely of said seat structure and then downwardly to form a U-shaped backrest frame, said wire member being bent to extend forwardly to the other side of said front support member and engaging said ramp portion thereof and being secured to said front support member, the portions of said spring wire member extending between said front support member and said backrest frame forming spring supporting means;

a rear support member secured at each end to said spring wire member and extending therebetween, said rear support member being secured to said spring wire member at each side of the bends therein between said backrest frame and said spring supporting means;

a plurality of U-shaped spring wire members secured at the ends of the legs thereof to said rear support member and extending upwardly therefrom and within said backrest frame;

a plurality of sinuous spring wire strips secured at the rearward ends thereof to said rear support member and extending forwardly above said front support member, said spring strips being bent downwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and forwardly to said base member and being secured thereto, said spring strips extending forwardly from said base member and terminating in spaced relation thereto;

a first border wire extending transversely of said seat structure and being secured to each of said spring strips at the first mentioned bend therein;

a second border wire extending transversely of said seat structure and being secured to the terminal ends of each of said spring strips;

first cushioning means disposed on the forward surface of said backrest frame;

second cushioning means disposed above said sinuous spring strips and covering the forward portions thereof between said first and second border wires;

first covering means secured to said base member and extending first upwardly and then rearwardly to cover said second cushioning means;

second covering means secured to said base frame and extending upwardly therefrom and around said backrest frame and covering said first cushioning means;

and a flexible member secured to said base member and said rear support member and extending therebetween and transversely of said seat structure and within said second covering means to prevent wrinkling of said second covering means with deflection of said spring wire member and said backrest frame about said arcuate portion of said front support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,154 12/1960 Aisenstein 297300 3,059,967 10/1962 Flint 297309 3,106,424 10/1963 Elliott 297-308' 3,163,409 12/1964 Running et a1. 297-302 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. PINCH, Examiner. 

